High Desert Strategic

Firearms and Personal Defense Training

"If you were looking to hire someone to provide security for your family,
and you were presented with your own resume ...
would it be enough?"

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About High Desert Strategic

"The real value of training & practice isn't gaining technical competence, it's achieving confidence in your abilities."

High Desert Strategic (HDS) is owned and operated by Neil Meyers.
Neil was privileged to be trained by elite military operators and master instructors, including, among others, John Holschen and Greg Hamilton (if you know, you know) and Tony Blauer.
Neil is certified, licensed, and insured to teach both unarmed self defense and firearms.
Neil is also a highly experienced attorney, and teaches self defense law from a practitioner's point of view. This is why other instructors frequently hire Neil to co-teach with them.
HDS offers practical personal defense training, emphasizing awareness, de-escalation, use-of-force decision making, and fear management.
HDS teaches skills and techniques used in military and law enforcement systems, but we are not here to “operate”, we are here to teach you how to protect yourself and your family, and we specialize in teaching regular people in a friendly, comfortable atmosphere.
HDS is not the least expensive local school. We have invested in our training and development and believe we offer a superior experience. If you are looking for the cheapest Idaho Enhanced Permit class, look elsewhere. If you are looking for quality training, call us. If you are not satisfied with our class, let us know and we will make it right. (Prices include range fee.)
Contact us to schedule your class. We schedule classes based on demand.
HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A CLASS
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(2) SCROLL DOWN AND CLICK ON CLASS, CLICK THROUGH TO CORRECT DATE AND BOOK CLASS
(3) PAY - SELECT MANUAL PAYMENTS IN REGISTRATION PROCESS - PLEASE USE VENMO IF YOU CAN (SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO VERY END OF SITE FOR QR CODE) OR YOU CAN PAY BY CASH OR CHECK.

CLICK TO COMPLETE ONLINE WAIVER FORM

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Contact to Schedule Your Class

PRIVATE LESSONS - Personalized Training
Beginner class for new sh
Service Information
100 US dollars
Pistol 1
Beginner class for new sh
Service Information
160 US dollars
Pistol 2
Beginner class for new sh
Service Information
160 US dollars
Pistol3 - EnhancedConcealedWeaponLicense
Beginner class for new sh
Service Information
260 US dollars
Pistol 4
Beginner class for new sh
Service Information
210 US dollars
Unarmed Self Defense 1
Beginner class for new sh
Service Information
150 US dollars
AR15 Rifle Fundamentals
Beginner class for new sh
Service Information
210 US dollars

Important Information

Who can sign up for a class.

Anyone who is at least 18 years old and not legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. (See 18USC922(g) and Idaho Statues 18-3302(11) for reference.) All participants must sign a waiver stating that they are not subject to this prohibition. You must be at least 21 years old for the Idaho Enhanced Concealed Weapons License.

If you are under 18 or legally prohibited from possessing a firearm you may be permitted to attend Unarmed Self Defense only with instructor permission. Contact us to discuss your situation.

We can also arrange -

private lessons for individuals, families, groups (e.g., work teams, church, neighborhood, etc.);
lessons on AR15 rifle, first aid, pepper spray, defensive knife; and
schedule classes to accommodate your availability.

We schedule classes on demand, so please contact us to discuss your needs.

Order of Classes - Pre-requisites, Refund Policy

Order of Classes - Firearms classes should be taken in numerical order - Pistol 1, Pistol 2, Pistol 3, etc. If you have prior training you may be able to skip the lower number classes, but only with our prior approval. Ask us before registering.

Prerequisites and Equipment - For Pistol 1 you should have your own pistol, but if you don't you can shoot one of ours. For Pistol 2 and above you must have your own pistol and carry gear. (See equipment list below.) We cannot supply ammunition.

Refund Policy - If we cancel a class we will give you a full refund. We will not issue a refund if you withdraw from, or fail to attend, a class you've registered for, or if we require you to leave a class because you are unsafe. If you have questions, please ask them before registering.

Equipment List

Unarmed - Notebook and pen to take notes. Water and snacks to stay hydrated and fueled. Comfortable clothes and shoes you can move in (like for a workout or exercise class).

Firearms - Range safety gear (eye & ear protection). Notebook and pen to take notes, and a "sharpie" type marker to mark your targets. Water and snacks to stay hydrated and fueled. Clothing and footwear appropriate for outdoor shooting range environment, weather conditions, etc. Sunscreen, bug spray, etc. as needed. Serviceable pistol & minimum of 2 magazines. Gun belt (belt built to support weight of gun), belt mounted dominant side hip holster (holster must be rigid, cover trigger, and allow one-handed re-holstering, no appendix*, cross-draw, or shoulder holsters, no Blackhawk SERPA holsters (or any other holster that uses the trigger finger to release the gun from retention)), belt mounted magazine pouch. Ammunition (brass case, full metal jacket, 250 rounds minimum). Concealment garment (center opening preferred). (*If you are an experienced shooter with mature gun handling skills who prefers appendix carry, you may contact the instructor before the class to request to use appendix carry in class. This exception may be permitted at the instructor's sole discretion. No other exceptions.)

Optional - (recommended for tactical classes, e.g., Pistol 4)

“Dummy gun” & “airsoft” gun (and pellets & gas). Gloves. Knee pads. Elbow pads (soft). Dummy (training) knife).

Affiliations - Certifications - Directions to Shooting Range

We are certified and licensed by United States Concealed Carry Association, and the NRA although we draw only a portion of our curriculum from those sources. Our unarmed curiculum draws from a number of certifications and sources that we are not at liberty to list here. We are also a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2) and use some CrossFit coaching methodologies.

We shoot at Double Tapp Range, located off of exit 71 (the Boise Stage Stop), approximately 15 miles East of Boise on Highway 84. When you take the exit, travel south towards the rear of the Stage Stop for approximately .2 mile (it is right behind the rear of the Stage Stop property). You will see a blue sign on the right for E. Double Tapp Ln. Take that right turn, and follow the dirt road .4 mile to the Double Tapp Range Gate.

We are part of the CrossFit community and sometimes CrossFit E3 in Eagle hosts some of our classes.